I know this is true (time/effort/cost of seeds/water, etc.) but my family is in the garden as much as they can be and it's become a source of infinite pleasure. My son-in-law even covered part of the garden with greenhouse plastic last fall and we had fresh goodies until Christmas (Midwest) and have already pulled garlic and eaten kale.
I agree there are some costs involved in growing your own - but even those can be minimized.............but nothing can minimize or place a $$ figure on the family time together working in the garden or having homegrown produce on the table :)
Here, too. Every year I know that by the time I harvest my veggies, and herbs I have probably spent more than if I just bought them at the Farmer's market. But nothing gives me more pleasure than playing in the dirt, and I wait all winter until I can get outside. The value of pleasure -- who can equate that? The taste of a just picked tomato, corn, squash, cucumber, etc. - well, there is no price that could give me that wonderful flavor. Having fresh parsley, chives, rosemary, basil, celantro, mint, thyme, etc. for flavoring just cannot be beat! Cost is not the issue with most of us. It is the satisfaction we receive. Right?